Cerebrospinal fluid shunt having long term anti-occlusion agent delivery

Abstract

The invention includes a shunt for at least partial implantation into a patient that includes an elongated conduit having at least one lumen therethrough, that includes a proximal end for receipt of bodily fluids for flow through the shunt and a distal end for discharge of the bodily fluids from the shunt, and a long term source of at least one occlusion resistant agent, wherein said at least a portion of the at least one occlusion resistant agent can permeate through at least a portion of the elongated conduit. The invention also includes kits and systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A shunt for at least partial implantation into a patient having a brain with a ventricular region and having an abdomen, comprising:
 a drainage conduit for drainage of bodily fluids having a proximal end configured to be implanted in the ventricular region of the brain for receipt of the bodily fluids for flow through the shunt and a distal end for discharge of the bodily fluids from the shunt into the abdomen; and 
 a fluid conduit concentric about the drainage conduit having a permeable portion extending along at least a portion of the fluid conduit; 
 wherein a long term source of at least one occlusion resistant agent comprising at least one absorptive agent is contained within the fluid conduit, wherein the at least one occlusion resistant agent permeates through the permeable portion of the fluid conduit into the drainage conduit. 
 
     
     
       2. The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorptive agent is alumina, silica, activated charcoal, cross-linked polystyrene beads, high molecular weight gels, silicone polyurethanes, open-celled foams or some combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one occlusion resistant agent has a solubility of less than 1 mg/mL in water. 
     
     
       4. The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one occlusion resistant agent is rapamycin. 
     
     
       5. The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the long term source of at least one occlusion resistant agent is a saturated solution that includes the at least one occlusion resistant agent. 
     
     
       6. The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable portion of the fluid conduit has a first location and a second location, and wherein the occlusion-resistant agent permeates at a first rate at the first location and a second rate different from the first rate at the second location. 
     
     
       7. The shunt of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one valve. 
     
     
       8. The shunt of  claim 1 , further comprising a port in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, wherein the port is configured to receive the occlusion resistant agent and enable the occlusion resistant agent to travel from the port to the permeable portion of the fluid conduit. 
     
     
       9. The shunt of  claim 8 , wherein the port comprises a percutaneous access port. 
     
     
       10. The shunt of  claim 8 , wherein the port includes a self-sealing membrane configured to receive a needle for injection of the occlusion resistant agent. 
     
     
       11. The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one occlusion resistant agent further permeates outwardly from the permeable portion of the fluid conduit into the ventricular region of the brain. 
     
     
       12. A kit, comprising:
 a shunt for at least partial implantation into a patient having a brain with a ventricular region and having an abdomen, comprising:
 a drainage conduit for drainage of bodily fluids having a proximal end configured to be implanted in the ventricular region of the brain for receipt of the bodily fluids for flow through the shunt and a distal end for discharge of the bodily fluids from the shunt into the abdomen; and 
 a fluid conduit concentric about the drainage conduit having a permeable portion extending along at least a portion of the fluid conduit; 
 wherein a long term source of at least one occlusion resistant agent comprising at least one absorptive agent is contained within the fluid conduit, wherein the at least one occlusion resistant agent permeates through the permeable portion of the fluid conduit into the drainage conduit; 
 
 a valve; and 
 a distal catheter. 
 
     
     
       13. The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one absorptive agent is alumina, silica, activated charcoal, cross-linked polystyrene beads, high molecular weight gels, silicone polyurethanes, open-celled foams or some combination thereof. 
     
     
       14. The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one occlusion resistant agent has a solubility of less than 1 mg/mL in water. 
     
     
       15. The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one occlusion resistant agent is rapamycin. 
     
     
       16. The kit of  claim 12  wherein the long term source of at least one occlusion resistant agent is a saturated solution that includes the at least one occlusion resistant agent. 
     
     
       17. The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the permeable portion of the fluid conduit has a first location and a second location, and wherein the occlusion-resistant agent permeates at a first rate at the first location and a second rate different from the first rate at the second location. 
     
     
       18. The kit of  claim 12 , further comprising a port in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, wherein the port is configured to receive the occlusion resistant agent and enable the occlusion resistant agent to travel from the port to the permeable portion of the fluid conduit. 
     
     
       19. The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the port comprises a percutaneous access port. 
     
     
       20. The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the port includes a self-sealing membrane configured to receive a needle for injection of the occlusion resistant agent. 
     
     
       21. The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one occlusion resistant agent further permeates outwardly from the permeable portion of the fluid conduit into the ventricular region of the brain.